Challiner, Dr Alistair

Ward-based Critical Care: a guide for health professionals

Like the original Ward-based Critical Care, this second edition aims to guide practitioners in the initial management of critically ill adult patients within the ward setting. It should be of value to a wide range of healthcare professionals, including junior doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and students. It will also be relevant to practitioners who are moving into any setting that cares for acutely ill patients.

This volume has been slightly reorganised since the first edition to ensure that practical aspects are incorporated within the relevant sections. The book is still structured around the ABCDE approach to assessing and managing patients, as this is promoted in critical care and resuscitation care training. The focus on practical examples and ‘hot tips’ to aid memory of key points continues.All the chapters have been updated with the most recent guidance, as available at the time of writing. This has meant that some chapters have required major revisions, while others have remained relatively unchanged. Some new chapters have been included, such as the ones on anaphylactic shock, patient safety, dealing with pregnant women in the ward setting, and massive blood transfusion. In addition, each section now starts with a chapter giving an overview of the A–E approach in order to provide more detail about assessing and managing those aspects of patient care.

This informative book contains many useful features such as clinical scenarios, hot tips and practical skills, and the text is richly illustrated and cross-referenced throughout.